Michelin Primacy Tires Problems (Explained)

Michelin tires are known the world over for producing high-quality tires. Among them, the Michelin Primacy product family scores very highly among critics and buyers alike.

But if you have these tires or plan on buying them, you must be aware of the problems they face.

Michelin Primacy tires have problems with premature wear, sidewall cracking, bulging, and tire wander. These tires have a mileage warranty of 55,000 miles. So if your tires have defects causing problems within that mileage range, you should contact your dealer to see what replacement options you have.

This guide will walk you through each Michelin Primacy tire problem.

You’ll also discover what you can do about those problems and how to minimize some of them before they happen.

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Most Common Problems with Michelin Primacy Tires

Michelin’s Primacy tires are pretty well-known and for various good reasons. However, they do have a few problems that you should know about.

Here are some of the known issues with Michelin Primacy tires:

#1 Premature Wear

Michelin Primacy tires come with a mileage warranty of 55,000 miles. So, it’s fair for customers to expect that the tires will not wear out until you’ve driven them that far.

Unfortunately, some batches of Michelin Primacy tires are known to reach their minimum tread depth well before that mileage.

There are plenty of reports by customers that their Michelin Primacy tires become worn out and require replacements despite only being driven around 20,000-25,000 miles.

The reports of premature wear come despite customers having rotated and balanced their Michelin tires correctly.

Michelin tires that wear out well ahead of time can make driving somewhat riskier.

So, drivers have no choice but to replace them through their warranty coverage or, if that’s not possible, at their own cost.

Make sure to check your tires air pressure at least once a month!

#2 Sidewall Cracking

Besides premature wear, Michelin Primacy tires also experience sidewall cracking that should not happen.

Cracks start forming when the rubber used to make the tire breaks down. That will happen from exposure to everything from UV light to chemicals and oils that undermine the rubber’s composition.

With continuous exposure, the rubber will become rigid and lose its flexibility to the point that cracks start forming on its surface.

Superficial tire cracks might seem harmless initially, but they should never be ignored.

That’s because the cracks can sometimes extend well below the tire’s surface and undermine the tire’s overall structural integrity.

#3 Tire Bulge

A tire in excellent working condition should retain its shape throughout its lifespan. That’s why a bulge forming on the surface of your tire is a bad sign.

Although they’re not as common as problems #1-#3 listed above, it’s still possible for a bulge to form on a Michelin Primacy tire.

Tire bulges typically happen when air accumulates between the tire’s inner and outer layers where it doesn’t belong.

The air escapes from the inner layer because its structure is damaged or defective and can no longer contain the air.

#4 Tire Wander

Lastly, Michelin Primacy tires are also known for causing tire wander. Sometimes known as ‘steering wander’, that’s a condition when the tyre causes the car to drift slightly to the left or right, even as you’re driving straight ahead.

That wandering caused by Michelin Primacy tires can be pretty tiresome and potentially dangerous.

The driver must continuously correct their steering to ensure the car is going straight despite the tire pulling to either side.

There is a silver lining with this particular problem, though. In some cases, tire wander only occurs while the Michelin Primacy tires are still new.

After you drive with them for an extended period, the problem can disappear on its own.

How To Fix Michelin Primacy Tire Problems

Suppose you’re using Michelin Primacy tires and notice any of the problems listed above. In that case, your first step is to contact your tire dealer.

That way, you can set an appointment with them to inspect your tires and provide further advice.

Until you have your tires inspected, it’s best not to avoid driving with them unnecessarily. Instead, change to a spare tire, and drive cautiously to your workshop or tire dealer’s location.

Depending on your warranty conditions, you might be entitled to replacement tires or credit that you can use towards your next tire purchase.

Can Tire Wear Be Corrected?

Unfortunately, you cannot correct the premature wear on your Michelin Primacy tires. That’s because tire wear is a permanent condition. 

After all, your tires’ continuous exposure to friction and the environment slowly remove the outer rubber layer, causing the tread depth to become more shallow with time.

As a result, there’s no way to correct tire wear once it has already happened. So instead, a new tire replacement will be required.

Despite that, there are plenty of ways to minimize tire wear and delay it as much as possible.

How Do You Reduce Tire Wear?

The premature tire wear on Michelin Primacy tires can’t be stopped, especially if yours were made using defective materials.

However, there are several ways that you can reduce tire wear in general. They include:

• Ensure correct wheel alignment: When you buy your first set of Michelin Primacy tires, you must ensure that they align correctly on your vehicle. Proper alignment ensures that each tire turns at the correct angles as you drive. More importantly, it prevents your tires from wearing out unevenly (i.e. more on one part of the tire than another).

• Keep tires filled with air: Your Michelin tires must be filled with air, maintaining the correct air pressure. Some drivers underinflate or overinflate their tires, causing the tires to experience excess heat and wear. So, you must refill your air with tires regularly.

• Rotate your tires regularly: Another crucial step to ensure even wear for your Michelin Primacy tires is to rotate them regularly. Rotating your tires means switching their positions on your vehicle every 6 months. Doing so prevents individual tires from wearing out unevenly.
• Avoid aggressive driving habits: Lastly, avoid aggressive driving habits. That includes driving with excessive loads in your vehicle, over potholes and road debris, and accelerating, stopping, or turning too quickly. Each of these habits speeds up the wear on your Michelin tires and can lead to premature wear and damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Check out these additional questions and answers to understand Michelin Primacy tires better:

Are Michelin Primacy Tires Noisy?

Michelin Primacy tires are known to produce a lot of noise. They are quieter on smooth macadam.

Installing these kinds of tires means dealing with the noise that they create.

Soundproofing your vehicle’s interior is not cheap, but you can accomplish it by filling the doors, trunk, and/or wheel arches & installing vibration dampers on the car floor with sound-proofing material.

What Is Michelin Primacy?

Michelin’s Primacy tire is a high-safety summer tire. It provides exceptional traction and braking capabilities even on wet road surfaces while maintaining a comfortable and quiet ride.

How Long Will Michelin Primacy Tires Last?

Michelin provides a mileage warranty of 55,000 miles for Michelin Primacy tires. Their standard limited warranty, however, is for 6 years.

With good maintenance and driving habits, you can expect these tires to last as far as their warranty coverage provides.

Is Michelin Primacy Discontinued?

No, Michelin Primacy tires are still available in 2022. They come in several variations, like the Primacy All Season Tires and Primacy LTX. They’re also available in a wide range of sizes.

What Company Makes Michelin Tires?

Michelin brand tires are produced by The Michelin Group with headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand in France. They’ve been around since 1889 and service over 170 countries.

Can You Drive On A Bad Tire?

No, you should not drive on a bad tire unless you’re going to your tire dealer or an auto workshop to get it changed. Then, ideally, you would change the bad tire with a spare.

However, if you must drive on a bad tire, you should drive very slow and maintain extreme caution.

Sources

https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/f1hngj/excessive_wear_on_michelin_primacy_mxv4_tires/

https://www.reddit.com/r/teslamotors/comments/301apz/michelin_primacy_19_tires_wearing_out_long_before/

https://shoforum.com/threads/michelin-tires-with-sidewall-cracking.113207/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Howsmytire/comments/cez48c/cracking_only_on_outer_edge_on_all_4_how_long/

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/michelin-primacy-mxv4-handling-issues.193356/

https://www.reddit.com/r/CarsIndia/comments/usvt7q/tyre_bulge_in_michelin_primacy_4st/